Just days after a Bengaluru techie took his own life over alleged harassment by his wife amid divorce and child custody proceedings, another tragic case has emerged from the Model Town area of Delhi.&nbsp; 
Puneet Khurana, a 39-year-old cafe owner, was found dead at his residence in Kalyan Vihar on Tuesday afternoon.
Puneet, who was fighting an acrimonious divorce case with his wife Manika, reportedly faced continuous threats and pressure, according to his family and friends.
The couple had been married for eight years and were partners in their cafe business. However, they had been living apart for the last two years following frequent disputes.
According to Khurana&rsquo;s family, he was &lsquo;upset&rsquo; with his wife.
The two got married in 2016, officials said.
Detailing the events leading to the incident, one of Puneet&rsquo;s friends said, &ldquo;He called us on Monday evening, saying he was under immense stress and needed to talk. He expressed concern that Manika&rsquo;s family might harm his father and other relatives. We stayed with him till 2 am, trying to reassure him that justice and the law were on his side. He seemed very scared despite our efforts to console him.&rdquo;
Another friend added, &ldquo;Puneet was a strong person, but the threats targeting his parents placed him under immense pressure.&rdquo;
Puneet&rsquo;s sister echoed similar sentiments, revealing that despite the settlement of financial and business disputes between the couple, he continued to receive threats from his wife&rsquo;s family.
In a disturbing 16-minute audio accessed by a national bureau, Khurana and his wife can be heard fighting over the business property. &ldquo;We are getting a divorce but I am still a business partner...you need to clear my dues,&rdquo; Khurana&rsquo;s wife said on the call.
The police have recovered Khurana&rsquo;s phone and called his wife for questioning.
Before taking the extreme step, Puneet reportedly recorded a video and an audio clip. While police have not officially confirmed the existence of the video, a 20-minute audio recording has surfaced, capturing a conversation between Puneet and his wife late at night.
In the audio, Puneet is heard discussing disputes over their shared business and financial matters. Towards the end of the conversation, he threatens to expose the truth on YouTube the following morning.
On Tuesday afternoon, Puneet was found hanging in his home. Family members rushed him to a hospital, but doctors declared him brought dead.
The police have taken Puneet&rsquo;s body for postmortem and seized his mobile phone for further investigation. Officials are examining the evidence, including the audio clip, to ascertain the events leading to his death.
The couple, who had no children, were in the process of divorcing with mutual consent. The ongoing investigation will focus on the claims of harassment and threats, as well as the content of Puneet&rsquo;s recordings.
Puneet&rsquo;s tragic demise has once again highlighted the severe emotional toll of marital disputes and the need for timely intervention and support.

Puneet Khurana and wife Manika in happier times

Puneet Khurana was also embroiled in a business dispute with wife; his family alleges harassment

Delhi Cafe Owner Commits Suicide Amid Divorce

Puneet Khurana was also embroiled in a business dispute with wife; his family alleges harassment

January 1, 2025 | 16:56 IST